THE IMPORTANCE OF BINARY OPPOSITION IN ENGLISH FOLKLORE

Abstract

This article explores the crucial role of binary opposition – a core structuralist concept – in the analysis of English folklore, myths, legends and fairy tales. Based on the theory of structuralism, it is emphasized that binarism is not only a factor constituting the text but also a means of encoding society’s moral, social, and cultural values, and transmitting them from generation to generation. Furthermore, this article clarifies that binary oppositions play a crucial role in English folklore for creating conflict, developing the plot, and explaining the structure of the world and its moral boundaries to the audience.